Strategic Initiatives at CSTEP strives to find solutions to two major challenges that we face today: the achievement of a sustainable and secure future and the facilitation of the clean energy transition. In pursuit of this, we conduct extensive technology and policy research on energy resources, critical raw materials, and advanced agricultural technologies via rigorous research, modelling, and analysis. Achieving circular economy is another crucial aspect we are exploring to secure a sustainable future.
Climate-Smart Agriculture Alliance
The Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment (DA&FE), Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the Gates Foundation; Center for the Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP); and Catalyst Management Services (CMS) launched a multi-stakeholder partnership to promote Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) and Climate-Resilient Agriculture (CRA) practices in the state.
A methanol makeover for India: Opportunities & challenges
India’s total primary energy demand stood at 39 exajoules in 2022–23, with coal contributing 55 percent, crude oil 28 percent, natural gas 5.7 percent, and the remaining coming from renewable energy sources, hydroelectric power, and nuclear energy. To meet this demand, India has relied significantly on imports, including 17 percent coal, 85 percent crude oil, 44 percent natural gas, and 95 percent methanol.
Can reducing emissions be the key to boosting dairy industry’s productivity?
India is home to 126 million productive cows and buffaloes, making the country the topmost milk producer in the world. Yet, as mentioned in the February 2024 Budget Session, milk productivity or milk production per animal remains low. As per the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, Indian breeds produce an average of 1,550 litres of milk per year, as against 10,000 litres of milk per year produced by those in the United States and Canada.
Green urea can boost decarbonisation while reducing India’s import dependency
Urea is among the most consumed chemicals in India—as an indispensable fertiliser in agriculture, and, thereafter, as an important raw material for producing plastics, and nutrient feed for cattle. In the conventional process of urea production, natural gas is the primary source of hydrogen and carbon dioxide that are used as raw materials. According to Energy Statistics India, fertiliser production accounts for 32% of India’s total annual natural gas consumption.
Carbon-to-chemicals: A techno-commercial assessment
Carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) is an innovative concept that involves converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) captured from point sources of emission or the air into value-added products. It has been gaining considerable attention lately for its role in realising a circular economy. In this context, our study aimed to examine the techno-economics of producing methanol and urea from the captured CO₂, while also evaluating the implications of producing these chemicals domestically, instead of importing them.